Filling-feeler mechanism for looms



M11126, 1923. 1,447,?52 4&-

S. S. JACKSON FILLING FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 2' I I HIMHWIMMIWMMHHMMIL l V r orney SIMEON S. JACKSON, 01? BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNUR, BY MEShTE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE STAFFORD COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A. CORPORA- rron or iv assacnusnrrs'.

FILLING-FEELER MECHANISWI FOR, LOOIMS.

Application filed December 20,1920. Serial No. 431,955.

To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMEoN S. JACKSON, a subject of Great Britain, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of Mas- 5 sachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Filling-Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein t0 the accompanying drawings.

The invention has relation to the so-called filling-feeler mechanisms which are employed in looms forthe purpose of detecting when the shuttle-contained supply of weft or filling has become depleted to the predetermined extent, and thereupon bringing about action to forestall delivery of the last end of the'said supply from the shuttle, so as toavoid production of a short pick in the cloth being woven which would ren der the cloth defective. y g

A filling-feeler mechanism comprises, ordinarily, a weft or filling-feeler, a sO-called controller, and devices which under the governance of the filling-feeler and controller are instrumental in bringing about the action aforesaid, (in some cases automatic replenishinent of the weft-supply; in others, stoppage of the loom). The controller serves intermediate the filling-feeler and the said devices; it is governed by the filling-feeler, and in turn controls such devices.

The invention is applicable to fillingefeeler mechanisms of the class provided with sideslipping feeler-devices, i. e., feeler-devices characterized by a laterally-movable feeler-K member which is held from lateral movement at the time of each successive feeling action by engagement of the shuttle-contained supply of weft orfilling therewith, that is to say, through suchengagement is held from movement longitudinally of the weft or fillingecarrier occupying the shuttle,

until the remaining portion of the said supply is toosmall to prevent such movement, at which stage in the depletion of the supply the laterally-movable feeler-member is displaced in the direction of the length of the shuttle-contained weft or filling-carrier at the time of a feeling action, and asa result of such displacement the change is called.

The general object of the invention is to provide improved means for operatively combining and connecting together a sideslipping feeler-device which moves forward:

ly and rearwardly in the feeling action, and a controller for the devices through which a change is called in the action of the loom in which the said feeler-device is employed.

The invention consists in side-slipping feelenmechanism having intermediate a side-slipping feeler-member and a controller for the change-calling means, novel connecting and combining means comprising, essentially, a pull-link connected to one of said elements and working idly relative to the other thereof in the forward and rearward reciprocating movements of the feelermember so long as side-slipping is prevented, and through which the feeler-member in slipping sidewise upon a substantially depleted weft or filling-carrier acts to pull the controller to call a change in the Working of the loom. The drawings show an illustrative embodiment of the invention in a form of feelermechanism having a side-slipping feeler device and a rocking controller of Well-known types. 1

In the drawings,-

Fig. l is a top viewrof certain parts at one side of a loom, including the said emhodiment, the parts being shown in their normal positions.

Fig. 2 is a view of the said parts in section on line 2, 2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows at the ends of such line. I

Fig. 3 is aview in section on line 3, 3, Fig. 1, looking from the right hand side in Fig. 1, showing certain parts of the change-calling mechanism, and the connection of the controller with the dog or latch of said mechanism.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows only small portions of the breast-beam 1 and lay-beam 2 of a loom, 3 being the front-plate of the shuttle-box, and 4: a shuttle occupying the said shuttle-box. The said front-plate and the front-wall of theshuttle have the usual openings 3*, 4, to permit entrance of the contact-portion or feeler-tip 11 of the feeler device as the lay beats up, to provide for contact between said contact-portion or feeler-tip 11 and the filling-mass 6 upon the vieft or filling-carrier 7 occupying the shutt e.

Referring to the feeler device shown inv therefor known in the art are adapted to be some cases a carrier-member 8 that is movable forwardly and rearwardly 1n the loom, and a feeler-member 9 that is mounted upon a pivotal stud 10 on the said carrier-memthe forwardly acting pressure of the shuttlecontentsagainst its, contact-portion in a feeling action. In this particular instance, the filling-engaging portion 11 is located nearer the adjacent loom-side than the p-iv- 'otal stud 10 and in consequence the said tendency takes effect in the direction toward the tip of the filling-carrier 7. i

The carrier member 8 in this instance is in the usual form of a slide working in a guideway at 12 upon a small stand 12 attached to the outer end of a main supporting stand'13 extending outward from the breastbea Aforwardly-extending reduced extension 8 of the slide works in a hole through an upstanding portion 12 of the forward part of stand 12. A cap or coverplate 12, bridging the guideway and holding the slidedown therein, is secured in place by screws 1%, 12. Other forms of carrier-members and supporting means employed. a

The spring-tension by which the carriermember 8 is held normally in its rearward position, and by which it is returned to that position after having been pushed forward in a feeling action by the pressure of the shuttle-contents against the end 11 of the feelenmember, is applied in this instance means of an expanding spiral spring 8 surrounding the reduced forward extension of the slide between the body of the slide and the upstanding portion 12 of stand 12. The spring,, as usual, yields to permit the forward movement of the feeler device that is caused by the pressure of the shuttlecontained filling-mass against the filling-engaging end or, tip of the feeler-mernber at the time of a feeling action, and then returns the feeler device rearwardly to its normal position as the lay moves forwardly. The controller of this embodiment of the invention is of a well-known preferred form, namely a rocking controller comprising a rockshaft 14 that is journalled in bearings 14?, 14 3 with which the main supporting stand 13is provided, and an arm 15 fixed upon the inner end of the said rockshaft and connecting with the devices through which a change in the operation of the loom is called. The said rockshaft extends in a transverse direction from theoutboard posithe loom. The arm15 has pivoted to its from the latch or dog. The engagement of the tooth 18 of the latch or dog the dog 18 pivotally connected with an upstanding arm 19 of the usual controlling rockshaft 20, the said controlling rockshaft 20 in practice being connected operatively with the replenishing or stopping instrumentalities of j extremity the link 16, which serves to couple said armto the latch or dog, the said link having in its'upper portionaslot 16 re ceiving the stem of a screw l8 projecting shoulder 21 of the vibrating weft-hammer or gooseneck 21 is controlled through the agency of the rocking controller. Normally, the cont-rollerholds the latch or dog clear of the path of the shoulder 21 This result is secured in the present'instance through the action of a spir l spring 22; surrounding the oontroller-rockshaft and having one end thereof engaged with the adjacent stand-' bearing 1 k and'the other engaged with a collar 23 fixed by means of a binding-screw 24 upon the controller-rockshaft. The said spring operates torsionally with a tendency to keep the controller-rockshaft rocked into a position in which its arm 15 and link 16 hold the latch or dog 18 elevated clear of the moving weft-hammer or goos eneck. The tension of the spring may be varied by adjustment of the collar aroundthe rockshaft. A second collar 28 is adjustably secured by a screw 28* to the controller-rockshaft adjacent the stand-bearing 14", said collar having a lug 28 thereonfor engagement withthe under side of said stand-bearing, tostop the rotation of the controller-rockshaft under the influence of spring22 at the desired point. Other arrangements of devices in connection with a controller for calling a change are known in the art. Having reference now to the means whereby according to my invention the side-slipping feeler-member. and the rocking controller areop'eratively connected and com bined with each other, v I In the illustrated embodimentofthe invention, the outer end v of t'he controllerrockshaft 14, is providedwith a crank-arm 27 that is adjustably fixed upon the said rockshaft by means of a clamping screw "14 at a suitable angle such rm inlthis instance extending obliquely upward and toward the front of the loom when in its normal position. Fromthe said arm abar 29 extends outwardly, parallel to. the controllerrockshaft The pull-link previously mentioned, shown at 26, is connected vpivota-lly at its rear end with the feeler-member 9, and its forward portion occupies a hole in the outer end of the bar 29, within which hole the said forward portion may slide smoothly and easily A nut or collar 26 on the said for ward portion is adapted to engage against the front side, ofthe bar 29. When the carrier-member 8v occupies its normal rearward position under the influence of its actuating spring 8*, the engagement of the said nut or collar with the said bar operates to hold the feeler-member 9 turned into its normal presentation position which is determined through the engagement of a shoulder or lug 9 of the said feeler-member with a stop. 9 on the carrier-member. This takes placewithout occasioningv any rocking of. the controller from its normal position.

During the normal working of the loom prior to substantial exhaustion of the supply of, weft or filling in the shuttle, the pressure of the wound mass of weft or filling againstthe filling-engaging end 11* of the feeler-tip 11 at each beat-up of the lay carries the feeler-member 9 and its carriermember 8 forwardly in the loom, and. as soon as this forward. pressure is relieved the spring 8 restores the slide and feeler-memher to their normal rearward positions. In this feeling operation, the filling-engaging portion ll of thefeeler-tip is held from slipping sidewise when it engages with a substantial amount of filling, the whole or- .ganizationbeing pushed forwardinthe advance of the lay without anyturning move ment of the feeler-member 9 about the pivotalstud 10, and the pull-link 26 simply slips freely forward through the eye-hole in bar29, and is drawn rearwardly through such hole by the return of the feeler-member 9 to the latters normalrearward presentation position, without affecting the position of the bar 29 and the controller, and consequentlyv the latch or dog 18 continues to be held out of engagement with the weft-hammer or gooseneck 21.

When, however, there is not sufficient weft or filling remaining to hold the filling-engaging tip 11 from slipping sidewise along the nearly bare filling-carrier occupying the shuttle the push of the said filling-carrier against the said filling-engaging tip causes such side-slipping to occur before or as the carriermember 8 begins to move forwardly in its guideway, thereby rotating the feelermember 9 about its pivot 10 and moving the arm 9 and the attached pull-link 26 rearwardly. Thereupon, through the engagement of nut or collar 26", with bar 29 the latter is drawn rearwardly, rotating the controller against the resistance of its spring 22 and lowering the latch or dog 18 into position to be engaged by the shoulder 21* of the weft-hammer or carrier 7, as required in caselthe gooseneck. Througi such engagement the latch or dog is moved forward and the controlling rockshaft 20 is rocked so as to call a change in the Working of the loom. 1

It will beperceived that in the organiza tion' as shown and described I provide the feature of a loosely-connected pull-link intermediate the controller and the side-slipping feeler-member, working idly in connection with the said elements in the reciproeating movement of the feeler-member so long as side-slipping is prevented, and through which the feeler-member in slipping sidewise acts to pull the controller to call the change. In the drawings the idle working of the pull-link is provided for by permitting it to slip through the hole in thebar 29 to the extent limited by the nut or collar 26" in the movement of the feelermember rearwardly. The loose connection and idle working to a predetermined extent may be provided for otherwise in practice.

As will be apparent from the foregoing,

the connections comprising the crank 27 with its bar 29, and the pull-link 26, not only serve to enable the feeler-member to actuate the controller so as to rock the latter to call a change in the working of the loom when sidewise movement of the feeler-member takesplace, but also enables the spring 22 surrounding the-controller-rockshaft to hold the feeler-meinber and its tip normally in its regular presentation position.

I have shown and described the best form of embodiment of the features of the invention that has thus far been devised by me, but in practice the form and arrangement of parts may be'varied more or less from what is shown in the drawings.

The said embodiment has been designed with thewobject in view of providing for slipping movement of the feeler-member in the direction toward the tip of the filling filling-warrier isconical adjoining the head thereof. as shown. The feeler-tip 11, accordingly. is located at the inner side of the pivot or fulcrum I 10 for feeler-member 9, and the feeler-member arm with which pull-link 26 engages extends outward from the said pivot or fulcrum. On account of the location of the pull-link outward beyond the pivot or fulcrum 9, the crank-arm 27 is provided with the lateral extension constituted by bar 29. In embodiments in which the pull-link is employed in connection with a feeler arranged to slip in the opposite direction, namely outwardly toward the filling-carrier head, in which case the feeler-tip and pulllink will be transposed with relation to pivot or fulcrum '10, the pull-link may work in a hole in the crank-arm 27 of the controller.

What is claimed as the invention is 1. In a filling-feeler mechanism for looms,

I the combinationwith a movable controller for the change-calling means, and a side-' slipping feeler-member reciprocating for- Wardly and rearwardlyvm the feeling action,

of a pull-link intermediate the said elements, connecting them together, working idlyrelative to one thereof in the reciprocating movement vso long as side-slipping is prevented, and which the feeler-member in slip-. ping sidewise actuates endwise to pull the controller to call the change.

2. In a filling-feeler mechanism for loo-ms, the combination with a movable controller for the change-calling means, and a sideslipping feeler-member reciprocating forwardly and rearwardly 'in the feeling action, of a pull-link connected to said feeler-mem her, working idly relative to said controller in the reciprocating movement so long as side-slipping is prevented, and actuated endwise by the feeler-member in case of sideslipping of the feeler-member to. pullthe controller into altered position calling the change. .7

3. In a filling-feeler mechanism for looms, the combination with a movable controller for the change-calling means having a crankarm, of, a side-slipping feeler-member reciprocating forwardly and rearwardly in the feeling action and havingan arm adapt-- ed to be swung rearwardly when the feelermember slips sidewise, and'a pull-link intermediate said arm and said crank-arm'through Which said crank-arm is pulled rearwardly in case of side-slipping of the feeler-inember, to rockthecontrol-ler to call a change in the working of the loom.

i. In a fillingfeeler mechanism for looms, the combination with a side-slipping feelermember reciprocating forwardly and rear- Wardly in the feeling action, and a movable controller for the change-calling means com prising arockshaft and a crank arm upon' of the said rockshaft having.

the outer end a member extending parallel to the rockshaft and provided with aneye-inthe'ero tremity thereof, of a pull-rod connected to the feeler-member, movable freely through said eye during the normal Working of'the "loom, and having at --its forward end means for the change-callingymeans having a cranked portion, and; a piv'otally mounted side-slipplng feeler member "reciprocating forwardly and rearwardly in the feeling ac tion, of "a 'pull-rod- 'connected with "said feeler-member and having controlle-l engag ingmeans reciprocating in the normal working of the feeler-mechanism *ina p'ath'lying wholly forward ofsaid 'c'ran-kediportion,and

in case of side slipp-ing of the feele'r-member 'movedrear-walrdly into engagement with said cranked portion to rock the controller to call the change, y

6. In a. filling-'feelermechanism forlo'oms,

' the combination with a side slip-ping feelermember reciprocating forwardly ;-:ma rearwardlyin the feeling actiou'and having a lateral arm and a movable controller for the" change-calling means i having a cranked portion, of a pull-rodattached to said-feelermember arm having a portion adapted-to engage" the said 1 cranked portion in case of side-slipping of the" feeler member and rock the controller to call thecha'nge.

7. Inawfilling-feeler mechanism for looms, the combination with a movab-le controller for the change-calling means, and asideslipping feelermember reci'p'ro'oating forwardly and rearward'ly in "the feeling action,

1 of a "loosely connected ull link intermediate the said elements working idly in connection therewith in the reciprocating"movement of the feeler-'meniber so long 1 as side-slipping is preventedyand through which the feelermember in slipping sidewise acts to pull the controller to call the change.

In -testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presenceof two. witnesses.

. SIMEON S. JACKSON.

Witnesses: r v I CHAS. F. RANDALL, ELLEN-O. SPRING.

the combination with a rocking controller 

